Más gratitud = más felicidad

Hoy fui a un cementerio con mi familia para visitar al lugar de memoriales de parentelas. Me sentí mezcla de emociones cuando llegamos, pero me sentí más fuerte por la experiencia y ¡Yo sé que todos verán a sus amados otra vez!

Foto sacada por Breezy S.

La experiencia me ayudó en muchas maneras y pensaba que debo compartir algunas lecciones que aprendí. Aunque es difícil tener a amados que desfallecen, recordatorios de ellos pueden ayudarnos a tratar de ser mejor persona si es que seamos educables y nos mantengamos con buena actitud. Tales experiencias difíciles también nos pueden ayudar a:

• Acordar de lo más importante y agradecer lo que tengamos
• Aprender que no debemos dar nada por sentado
• Crecer al compadecernos de los demás
• Apreciar más de nuestras libertades
• Aprender más de los desafíos

Aprender a apreciar más nos ayuda a disfrutar más de la vida. Seguir así no siempre es tan fácil, pero puede ayudarnos a enfocar menos en nuestros propios problemas al pensar de las demás personas. 

Por fin, pero no de menos importancia, quiero tomar tiempo para darles gracias y reconocimiento a aquellos que han servido este país: Kenneth Vaughan y Steve Brown... ¡Gracias!

More Gratitude = More Happiness

Today I went to a cemetery with my family to see the memorial sites of some relatives. I felt a mix of emotions when we arrived, but I felt stronger through the experience, and I know that everyone will see their loved ones again!

Picture taken by Breezy S.

The experience helped me in lots of ways and I thought I should share some lessons that I learned. Although it is difficult to have loved ones pass on, memories of them can help us to try to be a better person if we are teachable and maintain a good attitude. Such difficult experiences can also help us to:

• Remember what is most important and be grateful for what we do have
• Learn that we shouldn't take anything for granted
• Grow as we have more compassion for other people
• Appreciate more of our freedoms
• Learn more from challenges

Learning to appreciate more helps us to enjoy life more. Doing so is not always easy, but can help us to focus less on our own problems as we think of others.

Last but not least, I want to take time to give thanks and recognition to those that have served this country. Kenneth Vaughan and Steve Brown. Thank you!

El béisbol de BYU concluye la temporada 2014 con barrida

La temporada 2014 del béisbol seguramente no era lo que BYU y su entrenador Mike Littlewood anticipaban tras una temporada destacada en 2013 (32-21). En 2014 BYU cayó abajo de ,500% (22-31, 12-15 en WCC), casi precisamente el opuesto de la marca de 2013. Los Cougars finalizaron la temporada con una barrida de tres partidos de Portland, terminando la temporada de una manera positiva.

No obstante, BYU tenía varios recuerdos memorables este año, incluso una victoria apaleadora 20-3 en contra de la Universidad de Utah. Además, Kolton Mahoney lanzó partido sin batazo ninguno este año contra Nicholls State el seis de marzo. 

Senior Kelton Caldwell lideró a los Cougars en vuelacercas con seis. Chris Howard, Bret Lopez, Chunner Nyberg, Desmond Poulson y Brock Whitney eran los demás seniors del equipo.

BYU Baseball Concludes 2014 Season with a Sweep

The 2014 baseball season surely wasn't quite what BYU and its coach Mike Littlewood expected after a breakout season in 2013 (32-21). In 2014 BYU slid down to under .500 (22-31, 12-15 in WCC), almost the exact opposite record from 2013. The Cougars did finish the season with a three game sweep of Portland, which isn't a bad way to end the season.

BYU also had some memorable moments this year, including a 20-3 blowout win over their rival the University of Utah. Furthermore, Kolton Mahoney pitched a no-hitter this year against Nicholls State on March 6. Both occurred during a six game winning streak early in March.

Senior Kelton Caldwell led the Cougars in homeruns with six. Chris Howard, Bret Lopez, Chunner Nyberg, Desmond Poulson and Brock Whitney were the other seniors on the team.

Could Yankee Pitcher Tanaka be the Best in the World?

Masahiro Tanaka was a spectacular pitcher in Japan and this year he decided to take his skills to Major League Baseball. Expectations have been high for him before he even signed his seven year, 155 million dollar contract. Last season, he had a 24-0 record and a 1.27 ERA, which is magnificent!

Many thought that the Japanese pitcher would need to adjust in order to play his best in the MLB. Now, a quarter of the season has passed and he still has his winning streak in tact. On Wednesday, May 14 he won his 6th game with a shutout over the Mets. He also added his first Major League Baseball hit into the mix.

With an ERA of 2.17, sixty-six strikeouts and seven walks on the season, Tanaka is a complete pitcher who may continue to get even better; Dare I say the best in the world?

¿Puede ser Tanaka el mejor lanzador en el mundo?

Masahiro Tanaka era lanzador rimbombante en Japón y este año se decidió en llevar sus habilidades a las Grandes Ligas. Las expectativas se le han elevado aun antes de que firmara su contrato de siete años y $155 millones con los Yankees. ¡La temporada pasada en Japón tuvo una marca de 24-0 y 1,27 ERA, algo magnífico!

Se pensaba que el lanzador japonés tendría que ajustarse para jugar su mejor en la MLB. Ahora, ha pasado un cuarto de la temporada y él todavía ha mantenido dura a su racha de triunfos. El 14 de Mayo él ganó su sexto partido con un blanqueado en contra de los Mets. También agregó su primer imparable de la MLB a la mezcla.

Con ERA de 2,17, sesenta-y-seis ponches, y justo siete bases por bolas esta temporada, Tanaka es lanzador completo que aún puede seguir mejorándose. ¿Oso a decir el mejor en el mundo?

La ofensa de los Colorado Rockies expone numerosos "fuegos artificiales"

La temporada de las Grandes Ligas aún es temprana, pero es especial, especialmente por un equipo como los Colorado Rockies (22-14). Mientras tienen una ofensa mucho mejor que su lanzamiento cada año, este año han dominado consistentemente la pizarra. Los Rockies anotaron 29 carreras totales en los últimos tres partidos.

Los Rockies lideran casi cada categoría ofensiva. El promedio de bateo de los Rockies es ,310 por ciento, el siguiente equipo es Detroit con un promedio de ,285 por ciento. Colorado ha bateado 50 cuadrangulares, 87 dobletes (71 del próximo equipo) y anotado 215 carreras, 36 más que las Medias Blancas, segundo en esta categoría.

¿Cuáles jugadores específicamente han contribuido a estos fuegos artificiales? Superestrellas Troy Tulowitzki y Carlos Gonzalez desempeñan bien. Tulowitzki lidera la nación en promedio de bateo (,414%) y Gonzalez recientemente pegó cinco por cinco en un partido contra Tejas.

Varios jugadores jóvenes claves también están haciendo gran impacto. Primero, Charley Blackman tuvo comienzo acalorado, donde bateó seis por seis en un partido en el principio de Abril contra Arizona y ha mantenido alto nivel de jugar. Luego, el tercera base Nolan Arenado ha prolongado su racha de batazos por 28 partidos, así también ha retenido sus habilidades aun más talentosas en la defensa. El jugador anteriormente con los Twins Justin Morneau también ha contribuido bastante, habiendo reemplazado al recién retirado Todd Helton en primera base.

Mientras no se sabe si el lanzamiento seguirá capaz de sostener al éxito de los Rockies, la ofensa debe continuamente colocar puntos en la pizarra.

Colorado Rockie's Offense Displays Multiple "Fireworks Shows"

The MLB Season is still early, but it's been special, especially for a team like the Colorado Rockies (22-14). While they have a much better offense than pitching every year, this year they have dominated the scoreboard consistently. The Rockies scored 29 runs total in the last three games.

The Rockies lead in basically every offensive category. The team batting average is .310 percent, the next best team is Detroit with a .285 percent average! Colorado has hit 50 long bombs, 87 doubles (71 for second) and scored 215 runs, 36 more runs than the White Sox, at second place in the category.

What players in particular have contributed to the fireworks? Superstars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez are doing great, where Tulowitzki leads the nation in batting average (.414%) and Gonzalez recently hit five for five in a game against Texas.

Several key young players are making a huge impact as well. First, Charley Blackman had a hot start, where he hit 6/6 in a game against Arizona in early April, and has maintained a high level of play. Next, third baseman Nolan Arenado has pushed a 28 game hitting streak, along with maintaining his even more talented defensive skills. Former Twins player Justin Morneau has also contributed substantially, who has replaced recently retired Todd Helton at first base.

While it's yet to see whether or not the pitching will be able to sustain the Rockies' success, the offense should consistently put points on the scoreboard. 

Mexico City

I just had the chance to be in Mexico City for the first time. It was quite the experience. You can see the city for miles and miles while flying over it. It's pretty impressive. The airport had some interesting features. They had basically everything in English and Spanish, as well as quite a few messages in other languages (welcome signs in Japanese, etc.). When I just got outside of the airport, it smelled pretty weird. Some of the people I was there with said it kind of smells like dirt. The rest of the city I got to see seemed much better!

When we got to the hotel, a guy was standing outside and offered to take our bags, which were very few. One of our group members told him we were fine. The entryway of the hotel had one wall that had strings of beads covering it completely. It was pretty cool. The key we received was a card and is also used to turn on the electricity in the apartment. It took us a bit to figure it out, especially when the power kept going out after a minute or so. We learned that you have to leave the card in the slot to keep everything on.